Compare towns

Appleton vs Newport vs Springfield vs Hope

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Newport has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Springfield has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureAppletonNewportSpringfieldHope
People
Population
1,360Lowest
4,394
9,084Highest
1,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.2±7.4Highest
26% above U.S.
46.4±4.3
19% above U.S.
43.2±3.7Lowest
11% above U.S.
44.6±3.1
15% above U.S.
Appleton and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.3%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
13.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hope and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.1%±9.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±4.7
U.S.: 17.2%
23.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Appleton and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
25.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Appleton and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$53,618±$19kLowest
34% below U.S.
$54,646±$12k
32% below U.S.
$66,571±$13k
18% below U.S.
$86,766±$6kHighest
7% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$235,600±$33k
29% below U.S.
$179,400±$11kLowest
46% below U.S.
$192,400±$20k
42% below U.S.
$373,400±$33kHighest
12% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,104±$82
22% below U.S.
$850±$49Lowest
40% below U.S.
$963±$100
32% below U.S.
$1,219±$182Highest
14% below U.S.
Hope and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,588Lowest
15% above U.S.
$4,036
29% above U.S.
$4,807Highest
54% above U.S.
$3,842
23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.2%±15.8
U.S.: 51.1%
49.6%±15.6
U.S.: 51.1%
37.8%±38.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
23%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
57.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1966
14 yrs older than U.S.
1958Lowest
22 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
15 minLowest
45% below U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
20 min
25% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.8%±8.3
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
18.3%±10.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hope and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #63 of 70 in VT #64 of 70 in VT —
School district Appleton Public Schools Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District Hope Public Schools
High school in town None in town North Country Union High School Springfield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7Lowest
14.3Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.